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Welcome to the Vermont Model Criminal Jury Instructions. The instructions are sponsored by the Vermont Bar Association.
Use the drop-down menus above or the search function below to find individual instructions and the accompanying reporter's notes.
In addition, clicking on the menu headers above will show a table of contents for that section, and there is also a master table of contents available. Long-time users of the instructions will find the master table of contents to be in the familiar format.
Search for an Instruction:
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You may search for an instruction by using the name of the crime (e.g., kidnapping) or by using the statutory citation (e.g., 13 V.S.A. 2405 or, more simply, 2405). Note that the search software is simply reading the text on each page, and thus doesn't recognize "VSA" without the periods.
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Entrapment
January 2, 2019: The Committee has posted a revised instruction and new Reporter’s Note for the defense of entrapment, available here.
Hate Crimes
October 18, 2018: The Committee has drafted a new instruction for when a criminal offense is charged as a hate crime under 13 V.S.A. § 1455. The instruction and an accompanying reporter’s note are available here.
Homicide
October 18, 2018: The Committee has revised the reporter’s notes for homicide to include references to three recent Supreme Court cases: In re Sharrow, 2017 VT 69; State v. Webster, 2017 VT 98; and State v. Baird, 2017 VT 78. … Continue reading
Stalking
July 19, 2018: The Committee has drafted a new instruction for the crime of stalking, reflecting the 2015 statutory amendments. The Committee has also revised the Reporter’s Notes accompanying the stalking instructions. The new instruction and revised Reporter’s Notes are … Continue reading
Human Trafficking
July 17, 2018: The Committee has drafted instructions for the crime of human trafficking. Those instructions are available here.
Causation
July 13, 2018: The Committee has revised the Reporter’s Note for Causation.
Sexual Exploitation of an Inmate
July 11, 2018: The Committee has posted a new instruction for the crime of Sexual Exploitation of an Inmate. That instruction is available here.
New “Juror Prohibitions” Instruction
July 5, 2018: The Committee has added a new instruction on juror prohibitions, including juror use of electronic devices, upon separation following voir dire and before the start of trial. That instruction is available here.
Various Revisions
January 12, 2018: The Committee has revised various reporter’s notes to include citations to two recent Vermont Supreme Court decisions, State v. Bean, 2016 VT 73, 202 Vt. 361 and State v. Dow, 2016 VT 91, 202 Vt. 616. Additionally, … Continue reading
Voyeurism
January 11, 2018: The Committee has drafted new instructions and reporter’s notes for the crime of voyeurism, 13 V.S.A. § 2605. The instructions and notes are available here.